Too Busy Being Yours

eleven

tag #TBBYWP on your twitter reactions, maybe? :>

enjoy!

Despite the long distance and major changes in both of our lives, Zade and I stayed close. She will always be my bestest friend in this world—at ako rin naman sa kanya (sorry, Andreau). Of course, 13 years of friendship ang pinag-uusapan dito, na mas matagal pa sa relationship nila ni Andreau. Hindi naging hadlang ang paglipat niya sa New York after our college graduation, at ang, ahem, mga kagagahan ko all those years ago, sa friendship namin. I was her Maid of Honor. She's my confidant, my most trusted friend. We're each other's original ride-or-die.

Kaya abot-langit ang kaba ko noong niyaya niya akong mag-Bestie Time a few days after nilang nakauwi ni Andreau from their honeymoon. Tradisyon na namin ni Zade ang Bestie Time since college: we unplug for the day and spend the time together, just doing whatever comes to mind. Mindless window shopping, bookstore hopping, relaxing massage and spa splurges, at siyempre, tsismisan, 'yan ang usual agenda namin. Nothing serious, really. Rest and relaxation lang ang habol naming dalawa the whole day during Bestie Time.

But for this one, though, I was expecting the opposite. Instead of a R&R session, nararamdaman ko na magiging ala-Beau Perez one on one interview ang mangyayari sa 'min ni Zades. Tama ang hinala ni Dan na hindi magco-comment ang mag-asawang 'to sa IG stories namin nitong nagdaang mga linggo dahil mas gusto nilang kausapin kami in person. God, I really hate it when he's right. Mas kakayanin ko pa kung nag-reply si Zades ng ????? luh ano to??? sa posts ko, eh. Pero itong tatanungin niya ako harap-harapan? 90% sure ako na maiiyak ako on the spot sa sobrang kaba.

So stupid of me to think na rurok na ng anxiety ang meeting namin ni Dan with Mars. Phase 3 pa lang ang mag-asawang Cortez. Kung dito pa lang suko na ako, paano pa kaya sa harap ng mga taong kailangan naming paniwalain? Kakainin kami nang buhay ni Marianne sa December. Fuck.

"You sure ayaw mong samahan kita?" pangatlong beses na tanong sa 'kin ni Dan over the phone the night before my bestie time with Zades. "Pwede rin kami maki-bestie time ni Andreau."

I rolled my eyes. "Inggitero much?"

"Well yeah. I miss my best friend too. And Bestie Time sounds fun. Your last was before Zades' hen night, right? Gusto ko rin ma-try 'yung 2-hour massage na pinuntahan niyo last time. That looked relaxing as fuck."

"Parang may home service rin sila atang available. Do you want me to check it now? Or may lakad ka tonight?"

"Nah, bahay lang ako ngayon."

"Bahay on a Friday night? Who the fuck are you?" I chuckled. "Lolo ka na talaga, Dan."

"I-reschedule mo na lang kaya ulit next week?" he said, ignoring my jab. He sounded more serious now kaya napaupo ako nang maayos sa kama ko. "Tell her kailangan mong mag-prepare for your workshop on Sunday? Para masamahan kita next week. Saktong cancelled ang shoot namin no'n, makiki-Bestie Time ako."

It was so sweet of him to worry about me, pero mas kakabahan lang ako kung nandoon siya. Besides, nakadalawang reschedule na ako nitong Bestie Time namin ni Zades, at mas maghihinala 'yon kapag ni-reschedule ko pa ulit. At patawa rin 'tong si Dan, akala mo napakatapang talaga. Lakas ng loob na magprisinta na samahan ako at kunwaring chill siya ngayon pero sigurado akong titiklop 'yan pag si Andreau na ang kumausap sa kany—

Oh fuck, si Andreau pa pala. Kung solo kong haharapin si Zade, gano'n din dapat ang gawin ni Dan sa best friend niya. Ang dami namang problema nahihilo na ako.

"Dan, I'm gonna be fine," I assured him nang matahimik siya sa kabilang linya. I did my best to sound content and composed, like him. "It's Zade. She loves me. I can handle her alone."